Propelling and steering apparatus



sirius Armar ersten.

MURDIGK LYTLE, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROPELLING .AND STEERING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,129, dated May 24, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MURDICK LYTLE, of Allegheny City, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Combined Steering and Propelling Apparatus; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichf f Figure l isa partial section and partial side elevation of my invention as appliedto a boat employing a screw propeller. Fig. 2, is a rear elevation ofthe same as applied to a boat employing two paddle wheels instead of apropeller. Fig. 3, is a side view of a portion `of Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference, in each of the severals iigures indicatecorrespondingparts.

The combined steering and propelling devices hereinafter more fullydescribed, are not intended usually to be employed on vessels of muchspeed; but are particularly adapted to coal or other Vboats thatordinarily move with so littlevelocity that rudders cannot be employedadvantageously, if at all. On such vessels, in lieu of the rudder,steering oars are employed at the stern and also at the bows and sides,for the purpose of guiding them into the channel of the stream, whichnecessarily requires the services of a large number of men, andconsequently increases the expense of getting the coal or othercommodity to the market.

By means of my invention, the use of steering oars and rudders isentirely obviated and increased velocity given to the vessel in order toquickly get it back into the channel, by means of a propeller at one endof a horizontal shaft, or in lieu of the propeller by means of sidepaddle wheels which may be attached instead of the propeller at the twoextremities of the shaft. I would also remark that coal boats aregenerally lashed together in pairs, and when any accident occurs to oneof the boats that would endanger the loss of the other, the lashings arecut loose. In such case in order to remove any machinery from theinjured boat t-o the other and render it quickly operative, it isnecessary that such machinery should be so adjusted, as to be removablefrom one boat to the other without derangement of its parts. To effectthis result, my steering and propelling devices are adjusted in a framework not permanently attached to the boat, so that the frame togetherwith the machinery it contains, may be moved from one boat to the otherand still remain in working condition. The point of application of thepower must in this case be higher than the stern work `of the boat, inorder that the machinery may be readily moved'to its new position. Byhanging my machinery in such a frame, I am enabled to shift the combinedsteering and propelling machinery from one boat to the other withoutderanging the parts, and I am also enabled by means of tubular shaftsherein more fully described to change the point of application of thepower which may become necessary in the new position of the frame withits machinery.

In the drawing A, B, C, is the frame, which forms no part of the vessel,is not permanently connected with. it and can readily be removed. Inthis frame is situated the 'propelling and steering device; b, is avertical shaft hung in a bearing i, in the frame at its lower extremity,on which it freely rotates; the upper end of said shaft passes throughthe upper part of the frame and a pinion a, is attached to the upperextremity of the shaft which, meshing into other gearing (not shown inthe drawing), will enable the shaft to be turned at the will of theoperator.

At the lower end of the shaft Z2, are two arms g, with bearings 0, attheir upper extremities for the reception of a shaft k, on one extremityof which is situated the propeller c, see Fig. 1, or two side paddlewheels m, may be placed on the shaft la, see Fig. 2. The shaft le, issupported also in a step or recess fu, in the shaft b. By thisarrangement of parts, the propeller shaft is supported and rotatesfreely on its own axis, while it may be placed'at any angle to the axisof the vessel and the cumbrous framing by which the propeller shaft isordinarily supported, be dispensed with.

f, is a pinion on the shaft 7c, which meshes into a pinion e, on thetubular shaft c, so that it may rotate and by means of its gearing drivethe propeller shaft, while the shaft I), .remains stationary. To theupper extremity of the tubular shaft c, a pinion d, is attached whichmeshes into a pinion on the shaft to which the power is applied, notshown.

The operation of my combined steering and propelling apparatus isevident; an" position may be given the propelling Whee or the sidepaddlewheels in case they are empioV ed, relative to the aXis of the vessel,by ro ating the shaft b, so that when the propeller or paddle Wheels areoperated by means of the gearing on the tubular shaft and the pinion f,all the advantages are gained thatWould accrue `from the use of steeringoars or rudder While at any time a forward motion may be given to thevessel.

By using tubular shafts of different lengths or having the tubular shaftcapable .of extension or the Wheel capable of sliding up and down thepoint of applicationof the power can readily 'be raisedor lowered, asthe necessity of the case may require.

V What I claim as my invention and desirev Ato secure by Letters Patent,isl l. The shaft b,vvith` a supporting arm or arms g, and bearing recesslv, in combination Wlth the propeller or paddle Wheel shaft le, thewhole being arranged in the manner and for the 1mrposes set forth. l

2. The tubular shaft c, with gear 'Wheels at the upper and lower ends incombination With the shaft and propeller'shaft It', the Whole beingconstructed and arranged in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

The above specification of my improvement in propelling and steeringapparatus signed by me this 16th day of April 1859.

MURDICK LYTLE.

Witnesses:

G. YORKE AT LEE, H. H. YOUNG.`

A'Eri

